​I've officially been working in my new position as a Professional Learning Partner for over a month now. While it has been very strange not having high school students as co-workers, I've experience a great deal of freedom that have completely blown my mind. I've been able to do a lot of things that I would never have been able to do as a classroom teacher.

Use the bathroom whenever I need

Get coffee in the middle of the day without signing out of the building

Go out for lunch (and without worrying about getting back in time for 6th period)

Eat lunch at a reasonable pace without interruptions

Wear red (students are not allowed to wear red in many schools where this is a known gang color)

Arrive at work without having to be prepared for a sudden visitor or a student in distress

Use flex time to leave early for an appointment or errand without taking sick time

Take time off without preparing a sub plan

Find a new place to work (on or off-site) simply for a change ot scenery

Leave work at work

I think we often take for granted the sacrifices teachers make on a daily basis and some of the freedoms non-teachers enjoy. I don't think that people always understand that summers off (often filled with professional development) come at a cost for the 9 months of the school year. Teachers basically have to fall off the face of the earth and stick to an early bedtime (or have no sleep) in order to work their magic for students each day. Next time you step out to get a cup of coffee or take a break while working, appreciate that special opportunity and thank a teacher for their hard work and dedication to students.